BLOG UPDATED!!!

I feel like I have just not had the time to update our blog lately....So, as I am waiting for Abby to come home from going to the Lion King at gammage with Aunt Shelly (thanks SO much Shelly, she LOVED it), and because Spencer is out of town working SO hard for our family...I have found the time to write down our life as it has unfolded the last couple of months. Keep scrolling, there are quire a few new posts!! As the new year begins we are SO greatful for our family, friends and a beautiful place to live. We feel blessed to have the gospel in our lives to guide and direct us as we weave through this crazy, sometimes difficult wonderful life.

Our Family Pictures

We only do this every few years so I thought I would share....

Our Anniversary! The Big 10!

ALERT!! LONG POST AHEAD...it is well worth the read!

On January 8th Spencer and I celebrated our 10th anniversary! As far as I knew we were going to go to dinner...so, I was looking a little worn out after a LONG day with my great kids. We went to Brio at the new mall here (its one of my favorites). As we are eating dinner Spencer tells me he need to use the little boys room, (not unusual for him). A few minutes after he returns, the manager comes back and gives me a dozen beautiful roses and a folder. I was quite shocked by the roses alone, but I was FLOORED as I opened the folder and found that Spencer had planned a southern carribean cruise for us leaving in TWO WEEKS!! I was a bit panicked beacuse as a mother of 5 I know full well you cant just up and leave without extensive planning. Then Spencer goes on to tell me he has all the kids worked out! (my friends can keep one heck of a secret!!). As I am busy flipping through the brochure..I catch him getting out of the booth and walking over to me. He then proceeds to get on ONE KNEE!!! I was a little embarrased I have to admit! He then tells me how much he loves me and hopes the next 10 years will be just as good. He THEN hands me a black box! It had the most beautiful ring in it. The ring consists of 5 diamonds (to represent 5 kids) with each of their birthstones in between and his birthstone on the end to even it out! I must say I was very suprised and feel very lucky to have such a great man in my life. I love him so much for the amazing husband and father that he is.

Christmas 2008

Here they are coming down the stairs...I have to explain a little. We are ALL in our PJ's except of course our little Dayson. He is VERY paticular about getting dressed RIGHT as soon as he gets out of bed. So, that is why he looks a little off dressed in regular clothes....

Below are great pics of them opening a few gifts!

Now this was the BIG suprise... we got #6!! No, not #6 kid, we just added a puppy to our little but big family. Beware....lots of pics with cute kids and "princess" the new addition!

Riding in the Desert

Well, when there is not enough snow up north this is what we like to do....have some fun in the desert. Spencer and his friend Chris are so nice to give the moms a day off by taking the kids to the desert. The kids have a blast and I am always happy to see them in one piece when they return.

Caleb Joe mastering the 50cc motorcycle

Cute kids on the go cart.

Braiden also mastering the 50cc motorcycle

Ahhhh, brothers spending time in the dirt.....

AHHHH! What is that daddy doing with my girl? I dont think he understands what pain I had to go through to get her here......

Family Pictures

SO, this is just our second time in almost 10 years of marriage that we have gone through the agony of getting family pictures taken. My good friend Vanessa took them at Edwin and Linda's house. Here is just a few I have gotten back so far. I would highly reccomend Vanessa! She is SO VERY patient and a great artist! Here is the link: http://vanesaruizphotography.com/blog/?p=189

I will post again when all the pictures come back.

Thanksgiving!!!

My parents were in town for Thanksgiving at our house this year. My mom came with a great little activity for the kids to do . They made turkeys out of pine cones and wrote what they were thankful for on the feathers. They were SO cute and a great idea.

Emma making her turkey...

Caleb making his turkey.....

Abby making her turkey.....

Braiden made one too but he finished too fast I did not have time to get a picture. He is not really our detailed oriented child. Wondering where Dayson was during all this? Scroll down........

Dayson LOVES the Cars Movie. I could not pull him away from to make a turkey. He came down long enough to make a mess with the glue then he shot right back upstairs to watch his movie!

The finished product!!!

Grandma also brought prizes for the kids to pick from after they were done with the turkeys. They were $5 gift certificates to places like DQ and Sonic!!! Thanks grandma!!!

Abby also was able to have MY cousins come spend the night. This is Cameron and Coleen. Yes, they are MY cousins, but they are Abby's age. I guess thats what happens when your mom comes from a family of 10 kids. I have LOTS of great aunts and uncles who have great kids my age and my kids' age. Every time I say these are MY cousins Abby goes "Mom, they are MY cousins TOO!" How blessed we feel to have a great big Conway family!!

Shelley Shelley Conway

Last night at 6:15 pm my sweet, amazing Aunt Shelley passed away. Although we are devastated as family and miss her so much, we are greatful that her suffering is over. We know she is in a good place surrounded by those who have passed before her. I have gotten a personal testament that she is taken care of by our Heavenly Father. My Uncle Mike has written the sweetest blog update. You can check it out at: http://shelleyshelleyconway.blogspot.com/ This has taught me to be so thankful for the family that I have. I have an amazing family and I cherish everyday that I am given to be with them.

"Mom, you're kinda acting like a teenager" -Abby

Ok, so my cousins and my aunts were going to the midnight premeire of Twilight. So, I decided I would tag along. I DONT KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING. I am the "in-the-bed-by-8:30-or-its-been-a-bad-night-kind if a girl. SO, when 8pm rolled around I did not know if I was going to make it. But, with the help of some crazy cousins and aunts, I had a blast! I also have to thank my sweetest husband for staying home that morning and getting the kiddos to school so I could sleep in after my late night. Before I left that night Abby said, "Mom, you are kinda acting like a teenager!".

OH EMMA.....

I walked into the kitchen today and I found Emma sitting at the table with this. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "Its a Happy Birthday Mom". Notice the pizza on the plate with the straw in it.....I guess you can use your imagination when you are 2 and a straw is just as good as a candle and pizza is just as good as a frosted cake. She is SO funny!

You know we have had a lot of birthdays when you find your 2 year old creating her own birhtday cake and singing "Happy Birthday to you....".

Soccer FUN

The soccer season is now over! This is Caleb at his last game. I forgot the camera for Braiden's game, but since everyone thinks they look like twins, just imagine the same boy but with a grey uniform on. Great job this season boys!!!!

Abby's Birthday Date

It was now Abby's turn to go out with us on our date for her birthday. She wanted to go get a pedicure (I took picutes but they did not turn out). Then we went to see the new movie Bolt. It was a great movie! To end the great night we went to Cold Stone for some great ice cream. We sure love that girl and we are SO glad she was sent to us.

Birthday date for Braiden

This is a tradition in our family that we started years ago. We take the child that hs had a birthday on our next date out with us. It is a great way for our kids to get one on one time with Mom and Dad. OUr kids just love it. They never ask to do anything spectacular, I think they just like the time they get and it doesnt matter what it is. THis time we went to Wal-Mart where Braiden wanted to spend his Birthday money. Then we went to Pizza Hut. The story behind that is that Braiden got a free personal pizza for Book It reading at school. He really wanted to go there, we would have prefered that we go somewhere nicer, but he insisted!!! After that we went to Cold Stone Cremery (his favorite ice cream shop). This is where I remembered I had brought the camera to take pictures....so, here is the one!!

LOVE THIS WEATHER!!!!

It is SOOOO nice to be outside these days. I also just LOVE having Caleb come home early because he is in 1/2 day Kindergarten. I took the kiddos to the park and I was also lucky enough to have Kyler Bowen come too. That kid is SOOO cute.

Caleb and Emma going down the slide...notice the snot on Emma? Poor child, where is her mother?

Caleb is the nicest boy. Here he is making friends with some other kids at the park. It has been great to see him come into his own without his older brother leading the way.

Emma.........

Here are the 2 buddies. Sharing Oreos and playing on the slides! Life cannot get much better......